Protesters in Brisbane demand a reversal of the decision to grant MP's a $57,000 pay rise.

PROTESTERS have marched on the Government's executive building in George Street to voice their dissent at the LNP's move to block an interim pay rise for public servants just days after awarding MPs a $57,000 pay rise.

12.05PM: Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek and his fellow ministers this morning defended the pay rise as they headed into a Cabinet meeting.

"What people need to realise is that when you factor in the changes to our allowances and the payments to the parties that have been halved, there's no net cost to the taxpayer," he said.

Mr Langbroek said public servants were being let down by their union leaders.

"They're the ones who are resisting the attempts to sort out a deal at the industrial relations commission," he said.

National Parks Minister Steve Dickson said the government was simply doing what it had to do under the law.

"Crown law made a decision and Cabinet has followed that decision," Mr Dickson said.

A protester wearing a Campbell Newman head steals money from fireman's pocket at a protest rally over MPs' payrise. Picture: Adam Armstrong

He said he had only had a small amount of feedback from his electorate on the pay rise.

"We've had a couple of people talking about it but not a lot that's been adverse," he said.

"We've had a couple of people contact our office.

"I think politicians are worth what they get paid every day of the week."

Water Minister Mark McArdle said there had been some concern in his electorate but he too believed it was now a matter for the parliament.

"The government has to obey the law. The law was quite clear. Now the matter really lies with parliament to make any changes it so desires.

"Yes, there is a concern but I do make the point again that the government is not exempt from the law, nor should it be.

Protester wearing a Campbell Newman head has money thrown at him at a protest rally over payrise. Picture: Adam Armstrong

"It is now a matter for the parliament."

Transport Minister Scott Emerson would not say whether he would support a Private Members' Bill that will be introduced by Katter MP Shane Knuth aimed stopping the pay rise.

"The pay is linked by the tribunal to the Federal Parliament. It's up to parliament to make that decision," Mr Emerson said.

10.40AM: PROTESTERS have marched on the Government's executive building in George Street to voice their dissent at the LNP's move to block an interim pay rise for public servants just days after awarding MPs a $57,000 pay rise.

The group chanted "LNP listen up, Queensland has had enough" as Cabinet met inside.

Queensland Council of Unions president John Battams told the crowd the government should have acted 12 months ago and never awarded MPs the 41 per cent pay rise.

"This single increase is more than the average Queenslander earns in a whole year," Mr Battams said.

Paul Grey talks about how the firemen have not had a pay rise in 2 years. Picture: Adam Armstrong

"It's about time they did to themselves what they have been doing to us for 18 months."

Protester and Beenleigh firefighter Paul Gray said he was disgusted by what he described as the government's hypocrisy.

"They're lining their pockets with taxpayers' money while firefighters can't even keep up with the cost of living," he said.

"It's not fair, it's not just and Queenslanders deserve better."

Mr Battams called on Cabinet to reverse the decision to award the pay rise, and said the government should have recalled parliament and changed the legislation so they did not have to award themselves the massive pay hike.

He described the move to block an interim 2.2 per cent pay rise for public servants as the height of hypocrisy.

John Battam makes speech at the Union Protest that ended at 100 George Street Brisbane the Executive Building. Picture: Adam Armstrong

Meanwhile, a new poll has shown another drop in support for Campbell Newman's LNP government.

A Newspoll published in The Australian has put the LNP's primary vote at 44 per cent, down five points from the last poll in the first quarter of the year.

Labor's primary vote jumped just two points, to 29 per cent. The LNP still holds a commanding lead over Labor, 59 to 41 per cent on a two-party preferred basis, but that's significantly down on the staggering 62.8 per cent it recorded at the March 2012 election.

The poll was taken before Kevin Rudd reclaimed the prime minister's job, and before the Queensland government passed on a $57,000 payrise for MPs while going to court to try to stop public servants getting an interim pay rise.

OVERNIGHT: Today's protest comes after news the Newman Government launched Supreme Court action to try to stop public servants getting an interim pay rise, days after approving a 41 per cent increase for MPs.

The appeal was lodged late Friday afternoon in the same week Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie declared the government had to accept the decision of the Remuneration Tribunal in relation to MPs getting a $57,000 a year pay hike.

Together Queensland state secretary Alex Scott said it seemed there was one rule for Members of Parliament and another for government employees.

"It's the height of hypocrisy that they want to abide by the tribunal's decision when it's lining their own pockets, but want to challenge a ruling that could assist public servants," Mr Scott said.

Minister Assisting the Premier Glen Elmes said yesterday the current situation had been reached because of the "legal delaying tactics of the Together Union over the past 12 months".

"The government remains ready and willing to negotiate around a 2.2 per cent wage rise for core public servants," Mr Elmes said.

"The door is always open for Together Union to return to the negotiating table, and nut out an agreement for core public servants, just as we have for so many of their colleagues."

According to the government's contracts directory, the Public Service Commission spent more than $61,000 on lawyers in the first four months of this year.

Together has been seeking the stopgap pay boost until a new enterprise agreement for the 60,000-strong core public service is arbitrated.

Premier Campbell Newman has consistently said parliamentarians would not get an increase until the public service wage case was resolved.

But last week while the Premier was out of the country, Cabinet approved a 41 per cent increase for MPs saying it had no other choice.

Mr Bleijie said the government had to accept the decision of the Remuneration Tribunal, an "independent statutory authority".

Mr Scott said the government's decision to appeal an Industrial Court ruling on an enterprise bargaining matter was unprecedented in Queensland.

"The Government has consistently blamed unions for delaying pay increases but in fact the government has been the major cause of the delay," Mr Scott said.

The core public service last received a pay rise in August 2011, and voted down the State Government's offer of 2.35 per cent in a ballot last year, largely due to loss of conditions, including job security.

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